A new company called ChargeScape, jointly owned by BMW, Ford, and Honda, is set to revolutionize energy management by connecting electric utilities, automakers, and EV customers. The objective of this collaboration is to increase the efficiency of electric vehicle charging and grid services. ChargeScape will achieve this by establishing an Open Vehicle-Grid Integration Platform (OVGIP) that enables utility providers in Canada and the U.S. to access battery energy and data from EVs connected to the grid.
By participating in this initiative, utility providers can effectively manage the grid by sharing demand responses, charging, EV battery utilization, and high renewable energy data. This allows them to enhance grid efficiency and reduce costs. Meanwhile, EV owners who opt-in to the program will receive financial rewards for charging their vehicles during non-peak times. Depending on their vehicle’s capabilities, they may also have the opportunity to share power with the grid during peak demand periods through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
Despite the seamless integration between EV customers and utilities, participating EV users will always maintain control over their charging and energy decisions. ChargeScape is aiming to start operating in early 2024, pending regulatory approvals.
The main purpose of the ChargeScape platform is to make the power grid more sustainable. By providing charging benefits to EV customers who enroll in the program, ChargeScape aims to simplify the outreach efforts for utilities and identify EV customers in specific areas. Through the utilization of renewable energy sources like wind or solar power, ChargeScape will lessen the environmental impact of EVs. The company also plans to utilize telematics built into EVs for scheduling charging, eliminating the need for specific Wi-Fi-enabled charging stations and enabling EV owners without smart chargers at home to participate.
Furthermore, ChargeScape is open to other automakers joining the venture, further strengthening the integration of electric vehicles with the power grid.
Source: Unavailable.